Other Healthcare Support Occupations

How to become a Dental Assistant

Official title: Dental Assistants

Also called: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant (DA), Expanded Dental Assistant, Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA), Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA), Oral Surgery Assistant, Orthodontic Assistant (Ortho Assistant), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), Surgical Dental Assistant

Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

Main tasks

Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
Record treatment information in patient records.
Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.

How to become one

There are several possible paths to becoming a dental assistant. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam. In other states, there are no formal educational requirements, and dental assistants learn through on-the-job training.

Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Dental Assistant (Alternate Title: Dental Specialist).
Certificate or associate's degree: Postsecondary nondegree award. Programs such as Dental Assisting/Assistant
Licence: A licence is required in 45 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $48,070 a year The middle half earn $44,340 to $58,090.
About 388,600 people work in this job now, and about 417,400 are projected by 2035. (+7.4%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Dental Assistant?

How much does a Dental Assistant earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $48,070 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $44,340 to $58,090.

Is a Dental Assistant a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 7% by 2035, from about 388,600 to about 417,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Dental Assistant?

Usually not. Only 15% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award; Dental Assistant (Alternate Title: Dental Specialist).

Will AI change the work of a Dental Assistant?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.